I often speak in absolutes. I want all of the foods. I need all of the things. But recently I've started realizing - I could probably do with less of the things - maybe just have some of the things and focus more on the experiences.
I've always had lots of things. Clothes, shoes, technologies, accessories, home goods - I'm telling you - all of the things. And the more I move - the more I discover new things I didn't know I had. Clothes with the tags still on them that I purchased 3 years ago. Shoes new in boxes that I bought a year ago. A fancy running watch I wore probably a handful of times and then exchanged for the latest greatest Fitbit. You get the point. I own all the things and I'm basically a hoarder.
So I started trying something new. Every time I move I make a conscious effort to get real with myself about the things I own. If I haven't worn something in 2 years, it goes in the donate pile. When I moved from Arizona back to California - I donated 8 trash bags - yes those would be full size trash bags - of clothing. I was also able to sell 2 full bags and make a profit of $300. But being able to easily give away 8 big bags of my clothes - mind you this was the first time I cleansed so I was truly only getting rid of things I could easily part with - and I was still able to fill 8 bags. The second time I cleansed - I was able to donate 3 more bags. Realizing the amount of stuff I owned that was of no importance opened my eyes to how much money I was wasting on things. Things that could instead be experiences.
I always talk about my bucket list. And a lot of my bucket list items are expensive. They're exotic trips, tickets to the biggest events in sports, meals at some hard to get into restaurants. And I started to think - are the things I own worth giving up the bucket list experiences? For me - they're not. I don't need a new outfit more than I need a plane ticket to Maui. I won't get more happiness from an expensive haircut than I will from going to the National Championship football game. I'll absolutely enjoy drinking wine in Italy more than that expensive kitchen table I've been eyeing.
Mind you I've also never had time for experiences before. A lot of my bucket list items were checked off because of work trips and work experiences. But now that I've made a commitment to a work life balance - I've got all this time to do things and not a lot of extra cash to make it happen.
So I changed my focus. I'm a conscious buyer now. When I'm shopping, when I'm out with friends, basically when I'm doing anything I'm asking myself is this a need or a want? If I don't spend $50 on this - can I put it towards my next experience? And while I'm not ready to book my South African Safari, I am closer than I was six months ago. And if I continue on this path - I'll be able to continue checking off bucket list items. And for me - those experiences are what make my life feel so full. It's not the shoes and clothes and fancy kitchen items I'll remember - it's the feelings I'll get from being able to adventure. It's the relationships I'll build on unforgettable trips. And it's witnessing sports history, laying down on the field at Alabama - and it's getting uncomfortable and growing doing things I never thought I could. Keep all the things - I want all the experiences.